MOOSE JAW — The federal government’s recent announcement that it had secured a multi-decade, multi-billion-dollar military pilot training program will provide well-trained personnel and benefit the Moose Jaw area for years, a military spokesman says.
As announced on May 29, Ottawa awarded a 25-year contract valued at $11.2 billion to SkyAlyne Canada Limited Partnership for the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program. This will affect 15 Wing Airbase and airbases in Portage La Prairie, Man., and Winnipeg.
“This announcement is great news for 15 Wing and for the entire Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Nothing is more important than our people, and having motivated, supported, and well-trained personnel is crucial for RCAF operational success,” Capt. Jean Doyon, 15 Wing Commander executive assistant and public affairs officer, told the Express by email.
The FAcT program will provide initial training for the aircrew occupations of pilot, air combat systems officer, and airborne electronic sensor operator until the candidates are awarded their wings and move on to operational-specific training at the RCAF operational training units (OTUs), he continued.
FAcT will consolidate three current training systems under one common approach that harnesses the latest training technologies and methodologies. This includes flight simulation, virtual reality, courseware, and new training platforms.
From there, most members will go to their OTUs to learn their specific roles in transport, surveillance, and rotary wing operational aircraft. An exception to this is those selected for fighter training, who will go to the Fighter Lead in Training (FLIT) program before proceeding to their Operational Training Unit.
To simplify the transition and to ensure fair competition, given the condition of current bases in Moose Jaw and Winnipeg and the requirement to comply with Canada’s Greening Government Strategy, the contractor will be required to provide new venues, Doyon said.
Venues that the legacy contractors use will be assessed and either repurposed or divested by the assistant deputy minister for Infrastructure & Environment (ADM-IE) and Real Property Operations Support upon being returned to Canada.
“CFB Moose Jaw will experience its biggest modernization of infrastructures in 30 years. The FAcT contractor will be responsible for the maintenance of newly built hangar and training facilities,” said Doyon.
“Capital investments will be funded by FAcT for FAcT-specific newly built structures,” he added. “Capital investments required for non-FAcT-specific structures and underground utilities will be the responsibility of ADM(IE), who may or may not direct work to the FAcT contractor for execution.”
